They’re very well known and tend to be what other facilities can base their practices off of.

Every couple will encounter different reasons that brought them to the facility, but, generally, the same initial plan or consultation is made to get a baseline, find out what is going on and then form a plan of treatment.

I wanted to shed some light on these things for you, so you can walk in to your initial fertility consultation as educated and prepared as you can.

I hope to share a list of common questions you may want to ask your provider or things you will want to know the answers to to make the most of your time there.

What to expect at your Infertility Consultation

Appointment Expectations

As with most medical health care providers, you’ll have your appointment time and your arrival time.

Your arrival time is the time they’d like you there to fill out the paperwork. This is not just simple demographic paperwork, this is a little more in depth.

Some offices may even give you paper work to fill out ahead of time. Do not put this off.

You will need to put in all GYN/ OB if applicable history that you have. If you have any family history of anything, you’ll need to know as much as you can.

The more you can give your provider, the better they can help you.

Personally, I have a binder for medical appointments. I have a personal history section with anything I have been diagnosed with, like PCOS, or a placental abruption.

The binder has a family history section that gives dates and conditions that my family was diagnosed with.

It also has a medical procedure section where I have copies of my reports from any ultrasound appointments, pertinent lab work, radiology exams, etc. anything that may be relevant to the appointment I am going to.

I take this binder with me to any medical appointment and can update it as necessary and make sure the provider I am seeing is up to date on anything and everything medically related to my case.

What should my man expect at the fertility consult?

Most of the time, the office will provide your partner with a specimen collection cup to use at home and then guidelines on when to collect and bring in to the office for analysis.

If your partner is diagnosed with male infertility, there are many things they can do to help that diagnoses and you can learn more about it, as well as the things you can do to increase male factor health and things you can do to prevent having problems in the future if your man ends up testing normal.

Other Testing Expectations

Other tests you may need to get done if you haven’t already would be your baseline pelvic ultrasound before your day 3 scan.

This ultrasound looks at even more detail and checks for a few more things than they will look for in office on the day three scan.

You may also need to get a Hysterosonogram, this is not to be confused with the HSG (hysterosalpingoram) we talked about earlier.

If your provider things it is necessary, they may offer genetic testing.

I think our RE suggests it to everyone, no matter what risk rate their family has or not.

It is an optional test, just gives you and the provider information on things you and your partner may be a genetic carrier for or things your future baby may be at risk for.

The more prepared and educated you are, the better, in my opinion, but to each their own.

Some people would rather not know. I’m not trying to start a debate.

But, personally, I would love my baby no matter what condition it has, I would just like to be prepared and educated about something ahead of time.

Again, to each their own opinion. No judging here. Our RE works with Counsyl.

If you are interested in learning more, make sure to talk to your provider about what lab and what information you could find out.

So, usually your first consultation goes over your history, your prior diagnoses, the RE’s initial thoughts on what they think they might expect, what testing they would like done to get more information to create a treatment plan, a discussion of at least a month (if not more) “testing cycles” before treatment cycles.

What to expect financially at your fertility clinic

We also met with an financial counselor. Based on your basic plan ideas, they can see what your insurance may or may not cover, so you can start with a general idea of what to expect.

They can also tell you about different financial plans they offer.

There’s so much to learn about at this appointment, but this is a very important one.

Put it at the top of your list to investigate of the what to expect at your infertility consultation list.

I know that is a TON of information to take in.

But, at least if you have read through this, you’ll have an idea of what to expect at your initial consultation.

Remember these are just guidelines, every patient and every practice may be different.

I wish you the best of luck and am sending you the biggest amount of baby dust possible over the internet.

I’m here for you.

Feel free to reach out to me through email with any questions or if you need extra mental support!

I’m there for you in this journey.

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